HC Deb 02 July 1996 vol 280 cc421-2W
Sir Cranley Onslow

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what steps he has taken to ensure that beef for human consumption imported into the United Kingdom from EC countries conforms to the same standards as beef processed by abattoirs in the United Kingdom in respect of precautions against BSE. [31008]

Mrs. Browning

All fresh meat imported into the UK from other member states or third countries must have been produced in accordance with harmonised Community rules laid down in Council directive 64/433/EC.

The Beef (Emergency Control) Order 1996, as amended, prohibits the sale for human consumption of all bovine meat derived from bovines which, at the time of slaughter, were more than 30 months old. This measure applies to all bovines slaughtered after the commencement of the order, whether in the UK or overseas, other than those born, reared and slaughtered in those third countries specifically excluded by the order listed in the schedule to the No. 2 amendment order. The list of countries is confined to those where the Government are satisfied there is no history of BSE and public health rules do not prohibit imports.

The third countries exempted are from the order are:

  • Argentina
  • Australia
  • Botswana
  • Brazil
  • Mauritius
  • Namibia
  • New Zealand
  • Paraguay
  • Poland
  • South Africa
  • Swaziland
  • Uruguay
  • 422
  • United States of America
  • Zimbabwe

As regards bovines less than 30 months of age, a number of countries with BSE have introduced controls requiring the removal of specified bovine offals. We continue to keep the position under review.

Mr. Tyler

To ask the Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food what estimate he has made of the total net cost to the Exchequer of the current BSE eradication scheme in the United Kingdom, with particular reference to the effect on the United Kingdom rebate, for(a) 1996–97, (b) 1997–98, (c) 1998–99 and (d) thereafter. [35330]

Mrs. Browning

The latest available estimate of the total cost of BSE measures taken in the UK in 1996–97 is £1,037 million. In 1997–98 the cost is estimated to be £748 million and in 1998–99 £685 million.

Estimates for costs in 1999–2000 and subsequent years are not yet available.

After taking account of the net contribution from the EC and the reduction in our abatement, the costs of these measures to the UK taxpayer will be around £2 billion over the three-year period 1996 to 1999.

These costs take account of the measures covering compensation for cattle over 30 months, the new calf slaughter premium, the package of aid for renderers and the abattoir and cutting industries and additional running costs for the agricultural departments.

They do not include any estimate for the normal operation of market support measures or for any additional costs arising from the "accelerated slaughter" of cattle particularly at risk of developing BSE, for which precise estimates are not yet available.